A 6-Bedroom Bungalow in Kuala Lumpur

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This house, designed to resemble a European mansion, was built about 20 years ago in the upscale Bukit Tunku section of the Malaysian capital.

The interior is contemporary, with a formal hall leading to an elevated living room. Both the living and dining rooms have pale marble floors. French doors in the living room open to a patio that overlooks a tropical garden. There also are living quarters for two staff members.

Upstairs, a wide corridor with a glass ceiling separates the children's wing -- four bedrooms with en suite baths -- from the master suite, which has double-height ceilings, a kitchenette and a walk-in closet.

The trees in Bukit Tunku, a hilly area, teem with monkeys and tropical birds. The city's commercial center is a 20-minute drive away, and Kuala Lumpur International Airport is about an hour away.

Annual taxes are 3,451 ringgit.

Buying Basics

Foreigners are allowed to buy only properties that cost more than 500,000 ringgit, a restriction that was meant to protect the middle class. Transactions include two stamp duties, one pegged to the price of the property (about 324,000 ringgit for this house), the other to the size of the mortgage. Malaysian banks generally finance only half the purchase price for a luxury house.